He summoned Jane Johnston, head of corporate affairs at Heathrow service provider NATS and bosses from Heathrow to an urgent meeting at the House of Commons on Wednesday.

The changes led to complaints from people across Bracknell over the increased noise, even after the trials finished in November.

At the meeting, Dr Lee demanded to know who was responsible for what he calls an “incredible oversight”.

He was told NATS ‘didn’t make the connection’ between the changes, and the increased complaints.

The staff told Dr Lee they were simply following procedure.

Dr Lee: "I sincerely hope this was not a deliberate attempt to mislead the people affected"

Afterwards, Dr Lee said: “This is a wholly outrageous and unacceptable situation. Given all the publicity that surrounded the additional noise caused by the flight path trials, I find it completely unbelievable that these changes in the procedures were simply overlooked by NATS as a possible cause for increased activity over residents’ homes.

“I sincerely hope that this was not a deliberate attempt to mislead the people affected.

“It is also unacceptable that procedures can be changed without any reference to those people who will be adversely affected.

“I will be raising this immediately with the Department for Transport and, if I am re-elected in May, I will fight to ensure that all proposed airspace and procedural changes are communicated appropriately to all concerned before they come in to effect.

"In the meantime, NATS should acknowledge the distress they are causing by carrying out an immediate review of their internal processes to identify how and why this astonishing oversight happened."

"Absolutely clear communication needs to improve at all levels"

He added: “It is absolutely clear that communication needs to improve at all levels and between all organisations and stakeholders.

“However, it should be noted that Heathrow Airport Limited appear to have been misled just as much as everyone else by NATS’ failings."

What we know:

Hundreds of residents were affected by aircraft noise last year during trials of new flightpaths for Heathrow Airport

Furious Dr Lee called staff to explain themselves at a meeting at the House of Commons

If re-elected he will fight for people affected to be consulted over any future changes.

NATS has apologised.

Aircraft safety is NATS' main priority

Dr Phillip Lee is furious with NATS

In response to Dr Lee’s criticism, a spokeswoman from NATS said: “NATS has apologised to Heathrow Airport Ltd for not highlighting an operational change to air traffic control which has affected some of the same communities that were affected by the airport’s airspace trials which ended last November.

“Following further complaints from residents, Heathrow asked NATS if there had been any other airspace changes and we confirmed there had been none, as a result of which Heathrow made public assurances to residents.

“Following further investigations, the earlier procedural change was then identified which has led to a change in flight patterns over some communities to the south and southwest of Heathrow.

“In June 2014, NATS changed the way air traffic controllers direct aircraft within an area of existing airspace.

"This change only applies when the airport is on easterly operations, and affects only the Compton route which accounts for around 16 per cent of departures, or six per cent of total departures.

"It involves directing aircraft through a ‘gate’ approximately seven miles wide in the Compton area at approximately 8000ft; this ‘gate’, previously 13 miles wide, allows NATS to improve air traffic management in the area, enhancing safety and efficiency.

“This new procedure involves NATS (NERL) in terminal control in Swanwick climbing aircraft more quickly out of Heathrow on the Compton route and more clearly separating them from Heathrow inbound streams that in the past they would have had to transit underneath at low level.

“There is a net safety benefit of doing this through greater systemisation of the airspace and a clearer separation of inbound and outbound flows of traffic.

"There is also a net benefit to the public as a whole, as these departures now climb more efficiently, reducing overall ground noise.

"The area involved is designated as a Radar Manoeuvring Area. NATS is therefore authorised to “vector” (direct) aircraft tactically in line with our obligations under our CAA licence to achieve safe, efficient and expeditious air traffic control. NATS is not required to consult on operational changes of this type as we are not moving, creating or changing routes or redesigning airways.

"Our first priority is safety"

“Our first priority is safety, and we also seek to use existing controlled airspace in the most efficient way to provide expeditious service to users.

"The change is in line with the Government’s Aviation Policy Framework, which states ‘limit and, where possible, reduce the number of people in the UK significantly affected by aircraft noise’.

"We have therefore explained to Heathrow that we are not intending to revert to previous procedures.

“There is no suggestion that NATS did not follow the current agreed process.

"However, we have already taken steps to ensure more robust processes are in place to share relevant information with Heathrow so that they are aware of any changes that may be noticed by local residents.”